Akubra Whippet versus Borsalino Claudio

[daizawaguy]

I thought I`d show you very similar hats from two very different makers - an interesting side-by-side comparison. Akubra followed by the Borsalino

Here goes...first the from the side...

 

[daizawaguy]

The ribbon work...

 

[daizawaguy]

Closer look at the felt...again the A followed by the B...

 

[cookie]

But they're cousins! - with apologies to Patty Duke

Meet Cathy, who's lived most everywhere,
From Zanzibar to Barclay Square.
But Patty's only seen the sights
A girl can see from Brooklyn Heights — What a crazy pair!

But they're cousins,
Identical cousins all the way.
One pair of matching bookends,
Different as night and day.

Where Cathy adores a minuet,
The Ballet Russes, and crepe suzette,
Our Patty loves to rock and roll,
A hot dog makes her lose control — What a wild duet!

Still, they're cousins,
Identical cousins and you'll find,
They laugh alike, they walk alike,
At times they even talk alike —
You can lose your mind,
When cousins are two of a kind.

 

[daizawaguy]

The inside...

 

[GA Wildlifer]

Great comparison

How does the feel and fit compare?

Robert

 

[daizawaguy]

The Akubra is quite a bit stiffer. Hence for my long oval head the Borso slips on much better. Also, the Akubra is clearly a larger hat, whilst both claim 60cm....

 

[cookie]

Was the Akubra Whippet always a short brim/stingy?

Makes you wonder if you can order a custom in a wider traditional brim like a true US Whippet?

 

[SGT Rocket]

stiffer?

You mentioned that the Akuba is stiffer so it dosent fit as well as the Borso.

If one has an odd shapped head, would you say a softer hat is better?

 

[daizawaguy]

Cookie - yes, that is the standard brim. SlyGI - a softer more pliable hat agjusts easier, and tends to stay that way. The stiffer hat squeezes that back and front in a long oval head, and has space at the sides..at least for the first 100 times...!

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Was the Akubra Whippet always a short brim/stingy?

Makes you wonder if you can order a custom in a wider traditional brim like a true US Whippet?

The Akubra Whippet is another example of Akubra hanging onto a Stetson name after the licence to make Stetson Whippets expired in the 90's. Unfortunately (IMHO) Akubra decided the Whippet design needed cutting down to stingy proportions.

So to answer your question, Cookie - Akubra once made regular wider brimmed Whippets under the Stetson Australia brand, but the Akubra Whippet has always been a stingy.

 

[cookie]

Width of Trad Whippet Brim?

What is the width of the true Whippet brim? ScotttF would know...anyone else.. 2 5/8ths?